BRITAIN’S roads are jammed with more than half a million EU nationals who have obtained a UK driving licence without ­taking a test in Britain.

Immigrants born in EU countries can simply swap their home country licence for a British one. They can then carry on driving until they are 70.

However, several major crashes have left road safety campaigners calling for foreign drivers to be examined before being issued with a UK licence.

Incomers from 20 other mainly Commonwealth countries have 12 months’ grace before they must surrender their licence in exchange for a British one.

Only immigrants from countries with no reciprocal agreement must take a test if they wish to carry on motoring.

The number of EU citizens applying for a UK licence has risen dramatically since the European Union was enlarged in 2004. Just 10,373 EU migrants converted their licence for a British one in 1992.

Last year 54,032 of 83,553 EU applicants were issued a UK licence.

Immigrants from Poland have applied for the highest number of exchanges, 135,079 since 2004 when it was one of 10 countries admitted to the EU. Italians are the second most likely to trade in their licences followed by Lithuanians, Germans, French and Romanians.

Last night Brian Gregory, chairman of the Alliance of British Drivers, said: “Driving standards vary widely within the European Union.

“There should be a competency test for people coming in.

“It would be very sensible to conduct a Highway Code test to check that they understand the basic rules of the road.”

One driver, Daisy McEvoy, knows the dangers of foreign motorists living in the UK. A drunk Polish driver moved to the right-hand-side of the road and smashed head on into her car.

North Staffordshire magistrates heard Marian Mikolajczyk’s Fiat Punto had no reason to be on the wrong side of the road. They were told he had probably “reverted to driving as he would have done in Poland”. Mikolajczyk, 32, who had been drinking after a row with his girlfriend, was more than twice the drink-drive limit.

There should be a competency test for people coming in

Brian Gregory

He was banned from the roads for 30 months after admitting drink driving and driving without due care on the A520 in Leek, Staffordshire, in August 2010.

The cases of EU licences being rubber-stamped was highlighted by insurance firm Swiftcover which obtained the figures under Freedom of Information rules.

Chief claims officer Robin Reames said: “UK roads are very different to those overseas so it is vital new motorists learn as much as they can. This could include ­taking a few lessons if necessary.”

Andrew Howard, the AA’s head of road safety, said motorists driving on an ­unfamiliar side of the road are cause for concern but a compulsory practical test could harm tourism.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency said the reciprocal arrangement between EU member states was made on the basis that driving tests in all countries are equally rigorous.

A Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents spokesman said: “It is crucial to ensure drivers gained their original licence by passing a test in a country that has demonstrated its test standards and licensing regime are comparable to those of Great Britain.”